Au Revoir

Spring Break 2 is finally here.  We are off today with the older kids.

I realize there really are no longer "travel agents" because of the internet, but I feel like I maybe missed my calling.  I have planned our 10 days almost down to the minute, we will see and do just about everything.  This will be mine and the hubs 9th trip to Paris, but the first for our kids and I want them to see it all.

We have an apartment for our trip on a great street right in the heart of the city

with plenty of cafe's right outside our door

this is why I love google maps, I can literally stalk the streets of Paris from 4,000 miles away.  I can see the restaurants, the shops, the menus.  Big brother really is watching!!

Our first day is low key, I know that everyone will be exhausted from the flight.  After we are settled in our apt we will go the the center of the city and see Notre Dame.  

then at sunset we are going to a concerto at Sainte- Chapelle

this chapel is one of the most beautiful chapels in the world.  The walls are all stain glass, and at sunrise and sunset it is absolutely beautiful to see the light reflect through the glass.  They have hour long concertos almost every night, between the acoustics and the lighting it will leave you speechless.  We will hear Vivaldi and Pachelbel, 2 of my favorite composers.  If you ever find yourself in Paris, this is the one thing you should add to your list.

After the first day we are on the move.  Our walk through the city will take us to 

 Tuileries Garden

 Arc de Trimophe

Champs- Elysees

and finally we will end up here

We will go and see some of the greatest pieces of art here

Louvre

Monet finest work here

Musee d'Orsay

 Rodin's sculptures


and end the day with a tour of the catacombs

well technically I plan to end each day with this

we will visit the artist square at Montmarte

where I hope each of my children find one piece of art they truly want


We have a day trip planned to Normandy, something I have never done but have always wanted to do.

Omaha Beach

We have been study up on D day and we just watched Saving Private Ryan, I have heard it is eerie and life changing to see the remains of D day first hand.




Of course my daughter and I have our day planned

the moroccan hot chocolate is to die for!!!


we will take a boat ride

a bike ride

and lots and lots of people watching

 its the best!!


a bien tot!!!

Big Weekend

This is a big weekend here, the hubs and I have our anniversary on Sunday,  his birthday is Monday, and then we have father's day in about a week.  I have got to step up my game in terms of gift giving. I have a few ideas....

a pair of knocking around shoes

a pair of knocking around pants

a knocking around watch

2 of my children need laptops for school next year, of course the hubs has decided that he needs one too.  I wonder if Apple will give me a discount if I go in and buy 3 airbooks  at once??  Doubt it, and I don't even want to think what that bill will be!!

Don't get me wrong, I would love a new pair a shoes or a handbag for an anniversary gift but we are at the point where we either buy something for our house or plan a trip just the 2 of us.  For as long as I have know my hubs,  he has always wanted to go to Half Moon Bay right outside San Fran.  I would love a new runner on my stairs but I think California might be calling my name

Have a beautiful weekend!!

Back to Reality

After spending a week in the sun, in the fairy tale land also know as the 30A, it so hard to come back to responsibilities, cold weather, jobs...also known as life.

For an entire week I did not have a care in the world, I spent my days on the beach, my afternoon biking around the town, and my nights sipping bubbly the hubs....

it was heaven!!

On one of those afternoon biking tours I came across an extensive collection of Mara Hoffman and LemLem at a cute little boutique.  If you are looking for some additions to your spring/summer wardrobe, look no further!!

via

via

Mara Hoffmann closed her show with this stunner...

via 

and a little LemLem

via 

the cutest rompers EVER

via


and to complete the summer look, a stack of these would be just perfect

I'll take sun and more sun!!

March is like that mean guy we all knew in high school; nice, sweet and sunny one day then next we wake up to gray skies and frost.  Since the sun won't come to me, guess we will head to the sun!

I am crossing things off my list to get ready for a week of doing whatever I want..

Highlights, check 

sunblock, check

swimsuit, check

and it's from Target!!

Reading for the week, check

any physical activity, check

and a house at one of my favorite places of all time!!

double check!!

Life Lately

Does anyone else feel that September-December is just non stop busy?  I have barely had time to regroup since getting back from Costa Rica.  As soon as we got home we had my son's birthday..

Halloween..

a little Halloween cookie decorating at Williams Sonoma

and then your basic case of "reentry is rough"

But now I finally feel settled!

All I can say about Costa Rica is that it is an amazingly beautiful country.  It was never on my radar until the hubs brought it up as a possible vacation destination.  My initial reaction was , umm no!!  but I am so glad the hubs persuaded me, now I really want to take my kids next time.

our beach was amazing


The activities were endless

a little golf

as long as you can keep the monkeys off the course

kayaking

tennis on grass

which is extremely difficult

catch of the day.
Meet the resort fish monger and pick your dinner for that night, the red snapper is delish

rock climbing

zip lining

swimming in the hot springs then taking a volcanic mud bath
I know it sounds/looks gross but trust me your skin will feel absolutely amazing after this.

and a little paddle boarding

 At night you can release a wish lantern




and of course the animals were everywhere

 monkeys are like squirrels in CR, they are everywhere.

and extremely large iguanas.

It was such a great trip, I would recommend it to anyone, and to top it off, when we were checking out the concierge gave us a voucher for 3 free nights because they feel we did not experience the resort to the fullest since it was under renovations.

wow those wish lanterns really do work!!

Now I am off again today with my girls and my mom for our annual trip to Silver Dollar City

hee haw